With the increase in technology more and more people are acquiring
or have access to technological devices. This has brought an increase and
demand in internet use.
It’s an obvious fact the internet rates in Kenya as per now
are sky rocking. It’s very costly to purchase a very low bundle and keep in
mind how this social media platform consume large amount of data.
Various mobile providers including safaricom, airtel and orange
offer a variations of data bundles offer of which up to now is way too
expensive for the local mwananchi
Express Wi-Fi
Social media big giant Facebook is partnering with its local firm
surf Kenya to roll out Kenya’s cheapest internet services. This a country wide
roll out campaign to provide affordable high speed cheap internet to the marginalized
.
The
charges are rock bottom prices for internet bandwidth with plans that cost as
low as Sh10 and Sh20 for 40 MB and 100 MB of data, respectively. If we are to compare
this plans to what are currently in the market they are surely having a run for
their money. Have a look: Safaricom charges Sh50 for 65 MB while Airtel
and Orange offers 50 MB and 400 MB for the same amount respectively.
Weekly
Facebook Wi-Fi package is priced at Sh50 for 300 MB and Sh100 for 500 MB while
a monthly plan is priced at Sh200 (1.25 GB) and Sh500 for 3 GB. The Facebook
product comes with speeds of up to 10Mbps, making it a potentially attractive
offer for low-end market internet users.
Facebook
has already switched on the service in 10 satellite towns around Nairobi and
has announced plans to introduce the product in Mombasa and Kisumu in the coming
weeks
In
a statement Facebook’s regional head of partnerships for Express Wi-Fi in
Africa Uche Ofodile said, “Kenya is Africa’s tech hub and it fits well into
Facebook’s strategy. We are happy to see the commercial roll-out of the Express
Wi-Fi service that offers consumers affordable access and gets internet to the
many people that remain undeserved,”
In
a statistics carried out by communication authority late July- September (2016)
only 37.7 million have access to internet and Facebook is planning to increase
this numbers.
This
service is currently accessible in Nairobi’s satellite towns of Ongata Rongai,
Limuru, Kiserian, Kitengela, Kiambu, Mlolongo, Ngong, Ruaka, Thika and Wangige
where the firm has switched on more than 100 hotspots.
For
one to use this service(according to what I have read will have to try it out ) To
access the internet, one needs to activate the Wi-Fi(obviously) and select
Express Wi-Fi by Facebook hotspot, where the prompt re-directs the user to the
operator’s web address for a one-off registration.
The
service comes with a 10-day offer where user’s access 100MBs daily package for
free after which they are required to top up through recharge agents recruited
in areas where it is available. A consumer needs to be within a range of about
250 meters to access the internet, which comes with speeds of up to 10 mbps.
The service is currently concentrated
in public places such as shopping centers, office blocks and bus terminus. The
tech giant is rolling out the service in partnership with Internet Solution and
Surf Kenya, which rides on the former’s infrastructure.
With
this information run to your nearest hotspot and give me your feedback on the
same. I will making a follow up on the same and see how it turns out.